METHOD OF CHOICE OF VARIABLES AND CARTOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION METHODS FOR COMPLEX CARTOGRAPHIC ANIMATIONS

D. R. Dukaczewski

IGiK - Institute of Geodesy and Cartography

dariusz.dukaczewski@igik.edu.pl

After over 40 years of development, cartographic animations have become entirely operational tool for the visualization of the dynamics. Recently it become also possible to create complex interactive animations, including a number of sub-animations, which allows to present more information about the correlated dynamic processes and/or about their causes. In author’s opinion, one of the key factors of efficiency of cartographic animations is a proper choice of the variables at suitable levels of measurement and on an appropriate method of cartographic presentation. Using the results of investigations on entities-cartotrophic method and new research on complex interactive animations properties author proposes the method of selection of variables and cartographic presentation methods for complex temporal animations.

To achieve this goal it was necessary to propose a new classification of cartographic animations and classification of complex animations, to investigate possibilities of combined usage of cartographic presentation methods in complex animations, to analyse the possibilities of combined usage of static variables (size, value, colour, form; grain, orientation, transparency, and (proposed) brilliance, halo/aura) and dynamic variables (moment, duration, frequency, order, rate of change, and (proposed) way of transition). The result was the matrix of evaluation of the combinations of 24 main types of cartographic presentation methods. It is possible to distinguish 191 correct combinations of methods. The most ‘connectible’ method were: ordinary level point signatures, dot method, ordinary level point choropleth maps, ordinary level point cartodiagrams. The next step was to create the matrix of combinations of groups of variables and related cartographic methods. The result was the big matrix of 127 ! / 2 rows, based on correct combinations of static and dynamic variables.

The proposed method of choice of variables and cartographic presentation methods for complex temporal animations is based on the definition of goals and organization of the complex cartographic animation and their sub-animations, of choice of dynamized entities and levels of measurement, the identification of types of changes and animations, as well as the selection and verification of groups of combinations of variables and related methods of presentation used in sub-animations. The method employs the results of research in possibilities of use of variables in the creation of sub-animations. It uses also matrices of combined usage of cartographic presentation methods, as well as matrix of combined use of groups of methods and variables in the complex animations.